Underutilized fruits of South Western Rajasthan used in medicinal, nutritional and economic security of tribal's: A case study
Keywords:
Underutilized fruits, nutritional security, tribals, traditional foods, non-consuming groupAbstract
The South Western Rajasthan is endowed of plant biodiversity with special mention of semi-arid underutilized fruit and vegetables. The present study emphasized that in ancient times these fruits and vegetables were largely used by the natives of tribal area as a prime source of natural medicine and food using their traditional wisdom. They used them in the form of fresh fruits, dry fruits, fruit juice, fruit powder, arak, chutney, paste, lotion, pickle, nutritive wine, drugs, triphala and chyavanprash etc. But in present scenario, because of changing food habits, taste and prevalence of several food myths and taboos the new generation of tribals discontinued consuming underutilized fruits and vegetables. Because they are unaware about the importance of consuming underutilized fruits and vegetables in daily diet. It has resulted into malnutrition among those people who discontinued consuming locally available underutilized fruits and vegetables along with multiple nutrient deficiency disorders. Significantly high prevalence of nutrients deficiency and occurrence of clinical symptoms of protein energy malnutrition (14.4%), anaemia (33.0%), iodine deficiency disorder (17.0%), vitamin A deficiency (22.0), vitamin C deficiency (12.40%), calcium deficiency (18.0%) and zinc deficiency (19.20%) were observed in non-consuming groups of tribals. It was also evident from the study that the consuming group has more traditional wisdom for therapeutic uses of available underutilized fruits and vegetables. Also the study results revealed that the underutilized horticultural crops have the potential to give economic security to tribals by giving employment and by fetching good returns from their sale in raw form as well as value added products.
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